Michael Reece Britton pleads guilty to child sex crimes in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court

A man who sexually abused a boy for more than two years has admitted to committing multiple sex acts against the child in a bid to get a lighter sentence.

A child sex offender who abused a boy for more than two years admitted to his crime in an attempt to gain a maximum sentencing discount – but no court record of his initial guilty plea could be found.

Michael Reece Britton, 34, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court charged with seven offences on Monday where his defence lawyer Laura Parham submitted he had entered a guilty plea in December.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos interrupted Ms Parham saying the plea had not been recorded “on the court file”.

Britton was seeking the maximum sentencing discount — meaning a guilty plea needed to be entered within four weeks of his first court appearance.

Michael Reece Britton, 34, pleaded guilty in the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a person under the age of 17. Picture: Supplied AAP

Magistrate Kossiavelos said would need to review Mr Britton’s December appearance.

“It’s going to be a matter for the court whether (the plea) was in the state of court outcome or whether it a plea of guilty today,” Magistrate Kossiavelos said.

“I will still preserve his early guilty plea discount for today.”

Britton then pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a person under the age of 17, by engaging in one or more sexual acts with him.

Upon pleading guilty to count one the DPP dropped the remaining six charges against the Elizabeth Downsman.

According to court documents the offending took place over between January 2015 and July 2017 at Mawson Lakes.

Over a more than two year period, Britton engaged in multiple sex acts with the child including touching and having the victim touch his penis as well as performing and having the victim perform oral sex.

Other charges which have since been withdrawn include indecently assaulting a child under the age of 14 years, aggravated indecent assault against a child under the age of 12, two counts of gross indecency in the presence of someone under the age of 16 and two counts of having sexual intercourse with a child of the age of eight.

Britton will next face the District Court in February for arraignment, however it may be adjourned to March for sentencing to coincide with another matter before the court.